Isometric RPGs require a perfectly crafted recipe for success. Developers must ensure the story thoroughly enthralls their players and encourages them to engage with NPCs and side quests just as much as the main quest. Companions must be multi-faceted, disparate from one another, and add something more to the world around them, and the player's journey.

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The need for impressively realistic graphics depends on the players' mileage, but one thing all can agree on is the need for interesting and fun combat mechanics, and this is true of all RPGs. With their unique perspective, isometric RPGs could open the doors for interesting and unique combat, and this list highlights some of the best around.

5 Solasta: Crown Of The Magister

Implements Combat Rules Of Dungeons & Dragons

For RPG fans looking for a great game with even better combat, Solasta: Crown of the Magister is the game for them. Released back in 2021, this modern isometric game uses the Dungeons and Dragons 5E system, which, of course, extends to combat.

The fifth edition of D&D was praised for its more streamlined experience, and while the combat is Solasta does feel intuitive, it is not too simplified, providing a challenge for players even if they recruit a friend or two for a balanced party. Players will need to think of where to place themselves and team members tactically and how to manage their resources to ensure they don't run short of things such as spell slots in the midst of combat. Those who enjoy strategic turn-based combat will find great satisfaction in Solasta.

4 Triangle Strategy

Tactics Are A Must

Triangle Strategy boasts being among one of the best isometric RPGs in years and was even nominated for a slew of awards, proving its excellence. One of the main draws of this game, and one of the reasons it received such lofty praise, is largely due to its combat mechanics.

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Some RPGs will let players get away with spamming their buttons to repeat the same mindless attack, or choosing a certain class and abilities will allow them to cheese every single combat encounter. But that is not the case with Triangle Strategy, with the clue in its title: strategy. Every single choice players make will need to be thought about carefully, encouraging tactical thinking, rewarding well-thought-out strategies, and allowing players the freedom to choose the class they want to play, rather than the one they think is most powerful.

3 Neverwinter Nights

Captures The Feeling Of A Tabletop Adventure

Before Mass Effect and Dragon Age, BioWare worked on a few Dungeons and Dragons themed RPGs, such as Neverwinter Nights. Though it would not go down as the studio's most notable game, it was still a fantastic isometric RPG, with addictively fun gameplay.

Neverwinter Nights implemented multiplayer into the game, allowing players to recruit friends on their journey and coordinate their attacks to capture the feeling of a D&D adventure, helped further along by the Aurora toolset, which gave players the freedom to create their own unique adventures and craft some seriously fun and challenging combat encounters for their friends.

2 Hades

Roguelike Gameplay Challenges Players' Skills

Hades is all about the son of the eponymous god of the Underworld trying to fight his way to freedom, and as one can imagine, combat is the pivotal element of this isometric action RPG.

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Players will need to choose their weapon, each involving a different type of gameplay, and fight their way through waves of enemies and the occasional boss fight. It sounds quite simple in theory, but the practice is quite different. Swapping weapons will require a different playstyle that will force players to adapt or die, and death will put them right back to the start. While this kind of game might be off-putting for some, others will enjoy the fun challenge of the combat — and the satisfying reward that comes when finally beating the game.

1 Pillars Of Eternity 2: Deadfire

Combat Is More Fleshed Out & Engaging Than Its Predecessor

From the company responsible for lauded games such as Fallout: New Vegas, Obsidian knocks it out of the park with almost all of their titles, and Pillars of Eternity 2 is no different. The first game in the series was also worthy of praise, but the second time around, the studio struck pure gold.

While there are compliments to be leveled towards its story and world building, PoE 2 also stands out with its engaging and thorough combat system, which is even better than the original. Classes now have subclasses that give each class more bang for its buck, which means that each round of combat is far less likely to be repetitive, allowing players to experiment with different attacks and find out what kind of tactics work best for them. Players are bound to have hours of boundless fun experiencing the combat system, and thankfully, there are plenty of places to explore and find some new victims.

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